Michael phelan



rica.

MICHAEL PHELAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BILLIARD-TABLE CUSHION.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL PI-IELAN, of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improve-V ment in Billiard-Table Cushions; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying dra'wings, forming part of. this specification, in whichw Figure 1, is a plan or top view of a billiard table provided with my improved cushion. Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 8, is a transverse section of my improved cushio-n on an enlarged scale. Fig. t, is a longitudinal section of the same in the line w, as.

The object of my invention is to provide a cushion for billiard tables which shall be uniform and correct-and capable of maintaining its elasticity at all seasons and of enabling the ball when played with a skilful hand, to perform the most correct and perfect angles.

The nature of said invention consists in forming the cushion of three separate parts or materials, to wit, an oblong block of india rubber, a layer of fine silk cork and a strip of fine calf skin, whereby a cushion which is elastic at its back and comparatively solid, yet pliable, at its face is produced, and the above important desidera-ta consequently accomplished as will be presently shown'.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a billiard table made after the most approved plan, provided with my limproved cushion.

B, is the cushion. It is formed of a smooth oblong diamond shaped block of india rubber C, a smooth flat layer of fine silk cork D, and a smooth fiat strip of fine calf skin E; said parts and materials being combined and applied to the table as follows: The rubber C, is first placed upon a shelf or projection F, and against an oblique or inward beveled shoulder G, formed around the table, in a manner that its face and top shall not be confined. Against the face of this rubber the layer of cork is placed and in front and against this layer of cork the strip of calf skin is placed; the dilerent parts or materials thus arranged and combined are confined compactly together by a thin cotton cloth a, in order that the strain may be taken off the outside ornamental woolen cloth b, which covers the whole. It has after years of play and study been discovered that to have the ball perform perfect angles the cushion must be composed of these three materials combined as shown, because india rubber alone gives too great elasticity and consequently allows of the ball being embedded 'into the cushion, when moved with but an ordinary force, to such an extent as to destroy the angles, it being caused to change its direct-ion bythe surrounding rubber and to perform very acute angles or move in line with the arrows lll-l-instead of performing right angles in the line of the arrows 2 2. The disadvantage of this change in the ball must be obvious to any scientific billiard player, it destroying the beauty of the game to a great extent. It has also been found that leather alone is not good for cushions, as it is too solid and consequently causes the ball to perform angles which are too obtuse-it is also liable to become harsh and irregular at certain seasons of the year. Now by using cork in front of the rubber the elasticity of the rubber is not at all destroyed-while a soft even and comparatively solid surface is secured for the ball to play against. The rubber it may be seen has the same elasticity but instead of expanding or sinking in at one point expands along its whole length and thus causes the ball to perform perfect or correct angles over its entire surface. The object in covering the cork with fine soft calf skin is that the ball may not in striking it cause it to crumble, and another object is to confine the pieces of cork composing the cushion and thus avoid the necessity of using layers the full length of the table-which are expensive and diflicult to obtain. The leather also serves t-o give a greatercorrectness or evenness tothe face of the cushion.

Tables constructed with this combination cushion have been tested by many of the bestplayers and judges in this and other cities and strip of leather E, arranged, combined and have been pronounced mostperfect and and applied and operating substantially as complete of any heretofore played upon. and for the purpose set forth.

What I claim as my invention and desire MICHL. PHELAN. 5 to secure by Letters Patent, is Witnesses:

A billiard table cushion composed of a J. W. COOMBS,

block of india rubber C, a layer of cork D, A. W. COLLENDER. 

